Mark Cuban did not hesitate when asked to give his verdict on the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
Along with Kobe Bryant, James and Jordan are often at the centre of discussions about who should be recognised as the greatest basketball player in history.
Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls, including two memorable three-peats in the 1990s, while he was named NBA MVP award on five occasions.
His scoring and impressive defensive ability established himself as a sporting icon, and allowed him to build up a fortune of $3.8bn, making him the world's richest athlete.
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By comparison, James has collected four championships, impressively doing so at four different teams. He has been recognised as MVP four times and continues to set new records as he prepares for his 23rd season in the NBA.
James is already the league's all-time leading points scorer and had the opportunity to play alongside son Bronny last year.
The long list of achievements from both men across different eras has fuelled heated debate among basketball fans.
The latest high-profile figure to weigh in was American businessman and TV star Mark Cuban. The billionaire has first-hand experience of the NBA, having purchased a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks back in 2000.
Under his ownership, the Mavericks reached their first NBA Finals in 2006, before going on to win their first Championship in 2011.
Cuban then sold his stake in the franchise in 2023 in a deal worth an eye-watering $3.5bn.
Speaking on The Arena YouTube channel, Cuban explained his view on the GOAT debate.
He said: "I'm a LeBron fan and even like the MJ versus LeBron, they're two completely different players, you can't even really compare them. If you have a good team and you need a killer, you go MJ.
"If you have a team that's good and you want them to be better and as a team get to the Finals, you go LeBron. MJ is not going to lift up a bad team, LeBron can.
"Like who would I rather have last shot? MJ. Who's going to help your team get better? LeBron."
For James, his immediate focus will be on the Lakers and his preparations ahead of pre-season, which starts on 4 October.
The new NBA season is set to begin in just a month, with the first regular season games scheduled for 22 October.
Topics: NBA, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Basketball
James Taylor